In a bold new move to curb rising obesity rates, China is rolling out a nationwide network of weight management clinics not just in major cities, but across communities, combining both modern and traditional approaches to health.
Announced Thursday by the National Health Commission (NHC) and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the plan aims to bring weight management services to nearly every qualified hospital in the country by June 2025.
But this initiative goes beyond clinical checkups. It reflects a community-centered model, tapping into local health institutions and traditional medicine to make wellness a shared responsibility.
According to the joint statement, general hospitals, children’s hospitals, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals under the two authorities and provincial governments will all take part. At the same time, grassroots healthcare providers will offer education, follow-up support, and referrals, forming a seamless local-to-national health network.
“Healthcare institutions at the primary level should provide education, follow-up and health management services, and optimize referral processes,” the statement read.
This integration of TCM with modern weight clinics also reflects China’s broader approach to public health: one rooted in cultural familiarity and community accessibility.
The clinics will be especially tailored to the needs of vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with chronic conditions, through personalized care.
